David Price will lead Tampa Bay Rays in third outing - MLB Preview
A perfect performance in the first outing was not repeated in the second by the Tampa Bay Rays and the club has lost a close confrontation with an 8-6 scores on Saturday night. An electrifying competition was full of perfect sliders and hard hitting which
the Rays lost to Texas Rangers and the five-game ALDS series tied at 1-all.
However, a new day will bring new tasks that will teach new things to the players of both sides. The Rays will land their best ever rotation backed by David Price while Texas Rangers will provide the ball to Colby Lewis to defend their strong batting line-up.
Although Lewis has 14-10 record with a 4.40 ERA and his overall performance is as good as playoffs wanted from a pitcher, the right-hand pitcher will be looking to impress his fans with some new pitches. The 32-year-old ball thrower has taken 169 strike-outs
in 32 starts this season.
Rays have achieved 9-0 with the help of rookie hurler Matt Moore, who outpitched the veteran hurler James Shields with unplayable pitches, including fastballs, sliders and perfect changeups. The level of expectations the Rays’ fans have associated with their
veteran pitchers has created some more troubles for Lewis, who did not have enough experience in the playoffs. However, his ambition and confidence his manager showed over him, will be an added advantage for the 6-year veteran pitcher.
His competition with the relatively less experienced opposition will also be relief for him, but the overall condition and pressure of the game might put both pitchers into a real test.
David Price has just 12-13 record with a 3.49 ERA this season but he is on top of Lewis in strike-outs, taking 218 in 34 starts. Price will make his second important start of the week.
In his start against the New York Yankees last Wednesday, the right-hand pitcher permitted errors and gave away six run in four innings, putting the Rays into trouble despite the club being tied in the Wild Card race with Boston Red Sox. The Rays’ batting,
however made a perfect comeback after getting short of seven runs and managed to clinch their third playoff berth in four years.
However, Price was not ready to face the Rangers in playoff competitions.
"It is something that I think about and something that I want to get over with," Price said. "I am not intimidated by this line-up by any means or anything like that. It is a very good offensive line-up, and they make it tough to pitch."
Price has a full support from his team-mates, as third baseman Evan Longoria, who was vital part of the Rays’ playoffs berth-win game against the Yankees, showed his full confidence over the abilities of the Price.
Longoria said, "David's the kind of guy that, I think, no matter what kind of knockout blow he takes, he's always going to get up and keep going, try to find something from that experience to make him better, something to take away that he can turn into
a positive.”
Good thing for the Rays is having a bull-pen without any injury report. Their perfect combination will be helpful to create a room for a much-needed victory.
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